Elevated Perspectives | Exploring America From the Sky

There’s a difference between flying to get somewhere and flying to see somewhere. Luxury aerial experiences — from the side of a helicopter or the cockpit of a research plane, offer more than an adventure — they give us a new perspective of how we see the American landscape. 

Whether it’s hearing about conservation efforts as you fly above the disappearing wetlands of Louisiana, tracking resident orcas through the puget sound or gliding over Alaska’s ancient glaciers—this list of thoughtfully curated experiences in the sky reveal not just beauty, but the scale and fragility of our world, offering a deeper connection to and understanding of the places we travel to. 

Fly Over Louisiana Wetlands with a Conservationist

In the conservation field, overflights – flying over a vast area to see natural scale – are a powerful tool for the community. Unlike scientific fieldwork tucked away in labs, hidden from the public, these types of aerial excursions bring people face-to-face with the scale and urgency of environmental challenges from a birds-eye view. One place to experience this is in Louisiana. In a private seaplane, you’ll fly over these Southern wetlands, hear the story of how a once lush landscape made of thriving fresh, brackish and saltwater marshes and cypress swamps is rapidly disappearing, and learn first hand about the continued efforts to preserve their existence.

Joining a conservation overflight in Louisiana is best paired with The Best of New Orleans and Cajun Country journey.

Fly to a Remote Chalet on an Alaskan Glacier

Photos courtesy of Sheldon Chalet | Chris Burkhard

Perched atop a rugged nunatak in the secluded heart of Denali National Park, deep in the Alaskan range is the Sheldon Chalet, a remote and secluded alpine cabin, surrounded by a vast expanse of glaciers, ice fields, and snow-covered peaks. The chalet is so isolated that it’s only accessible by helicopter, with a dedicated landing pad built right on the roof. As you fly in, you’ll glide over the Susitna Valley, the dramatic Ruth Glacier Great Gorge—the deepest glacial gorge in North America—and the towering peaks of the Alaska Range, including Denali itself. Once there, you can choose from an array of alpine adventures: backcountry skiing, snowshoeing across untouched terrain, or even spelunking into glacier ice caves.

Visiting the Sheldon Chalet is best paired with our Epic Alaska Road Trip.

Drop Into and Hike Utah’s Wild Alpine Peaks

Photos courtesy of the Lodge at Blue Sky

Located on a 3,500-acre private ranch outside Park City, the Lodge at Blue Sky offers aerial excursions deep into the Wasatch Range, where rugged ridgelines, open meadows, and dense aspen forests define the landscape. After taking off from the lodge’s private helipad, you’ll fly into secluded areas of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, landing on remote plateaus at elevations above 10,000 feet. From there, you’ll hike through wildflower-covered alpine meadows, rocky outcrops with panoramic valley views, and dense groves of aspens that turn golden in the fall. Along the way, you’ll have time to take in the wide-open views, learn about the local ecosystem, and stop for a picnic in a remote, scenic spot before flying back to the lodge.

This luxury aerial experience at the Lodge at Blue Sky is best paired with An Odyssey Through Utah’s National Parks.

Greet the Sunrise Atop Powell Butte in Utah

Photos courtesy of Amangiri

The vast landscapes of southern Utah—carved with red rock canyons, sandstone mesas, and towering buttes—are sights that must be seen to be believed. Nestled within this awesome terrain, Amangiri offers a rare opportunity to connect with the desert on a deeper level, with aerial excursions that reveal the scale and stillness of the surrounding landscape. At dawn, you’ll have the chance to depart in a private helicopter for Tower Butte, a monolithic mesa that rises 1,000 feet above the desert floor. From this perch, take in panoramic views of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Once atop the butte, join a guided wellness session, a sunrise yoga practice, or simply take in the beauty of the land from this surreal vantage point.

This Amangiri experience is best paired with our Red Rock and Canyon Country of Arizona and Utah sample journey.

Track Resident Orcas While Flying Over the Puget Sound

Flying from Seattle to the San Juan Islands offers more than just a quick route across Puget Sound—it’s a chance to see the region’s marine ecosystem from above. Aboard a seaplane, you’ll follow the waterways that are home to the Pacific Northwest’s resident orca pods, with a bird’s-eye view of the islands, kelp forests, and tidal channels that sustain them. After landing in Friday Harbor, you’ll visit The Whale Museum’s Orca Lab, where you’ll learn about ongoing efforts to protect these pods, track their migratory patterns, and understand the delicate balance of their marine habitat.

Flying over the Puget Sound is best paired with our Olympic Peninsula and San Juan Islands: Coastal Wanderings sample journey.

How to incorporate luxury aerial experiences into a cross-country journey?

If you’re ready to start planning a journey that includes some of these luxury aerial experiences — we’re here to make it happen. 

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